Rosemount Inc.

Rivatek, Inc.

John Allan Kielb

Grant Bradley Edwards

Richard Louis Nelson

Brian Lee Westfield

Dennis John Smith

Mark Daniel Litecky

Kelly Michael Orth

Randy J Longsdorf

Donald F Palan

Grant B Edwards

Dale Alan Nugent

Scott D Manicor

David Andrew Broden

Mark Stephen Schumacher

Robert J Karschnia

Steven John McCoy

Nicholas Aaron Wienhold

Cory Robinson

David L Pederson

James E Templin, Jr

Jared Neuharth

Allen J Kempke

Cody James Skow

Andrew L Stone

Cory Michael Robinson

Brian K Westfield

Robert J Karschina

A wireless process variable transmitter for use in an industrial process includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable of the industrial process. Measurement circuitry connected to the process variable sensor provides an output related to the sensed process variable. Wireless communication circuitry connected to the measurement circuitry wirelessly transmits information related to the sensed process variable to a remote location. A removable industrial power module is configured to hold a replaceable battery and provide power to the process variable sensor, the measurement circuitry and the wireless communication circuitry. Battery test circuitry in the removable industrial power module connects to the replaceable battery and provides a visual output related to a condition of the replaceable battery.

Wireless process variable transmitter with removable power module

A communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board having a thickness that complies with an intrinsic safety physical separation specification. A first pair of capacitive plates are disposed on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and are arranged to form a first capacitor having an insulating layer of the printed circuit board forming a dielectric material for the first capacitor. A second pair of capacitive plates are disposed on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and are arranged to form a second capacitor having the insulating layer of the printed circuit board forming a dielectric material for the second capacitor. A modulator is coupled to the first and second capacitors and is configured to receive an input signal having an input signal frequency and to provide a modulated signal having a frequency that is higher than the input signal. A demodulator is coupled to the first and second capacitors and configured to detect the modulated signal and provide a demodulated signal having the input signal frequency.

Intrinsic safety isolation with capacitive coupling

A gauge system comprises a sensor that produces a sensor signal as a function of a sensed parameter. The gauge system also comprises a motor and a gauge having a scale and a movable indication needle that is driven by the motor and displays a measurement value of the sensed parameter based upon position of the needle relative to the scale. The gauge system further includes a position sensor that produces a position feedback signal representative of a sensed position of the needle and a controller that provides drive commands to the motor based on the sensor signal and the position feedback signal.

Gauge display system

A wireless adapter for use in a two-wire process control loop includes wireless communication circuitry and first and second terminals configured to couple in series with the two-wire process control loop. A regulator having a regulated input is coupled to the first terminal and an output. A shunt is coupled to the output of the regulator and is configured to provide power to the wireless communication circuitry. A feedback circuit is configured to control current flowing from the regulator to the shunt as a function of a loop current flowing through the two-wire process control loop.

RF adapter for field device with variable voltage drop

An adapter for coupling to a process control transmitter of the type used to monitor a process variable in an industrial process includes a first connection configured to couple to a first side of a two wire process control loop, a second connection configured to couple to a second side of the two wire process control loop and in series with a first connection to a process control transmitter, and a third connection configured to couple to a second connection of the process control transmitter. Wireless communication circuitry is coupled to at least the third connection and is configured to provide wireless communication for the process control transmitter. Intrinsic safety circuitry coupled to at least one of the first, second and third connections is configured to limit transfer of electrical energy to a value which is less than an intrinsic safety value.

RF adapter for field device with low voltage intrinsic safety clamping

An adapter for coupling to a process control transmitter of the type used to monitor a process variable in an industrial process is provided. The adapter includes I/O circuitry configured to couple to a two wire process control loop and to the process control transmitter and communicate on the process control loop. Wireless communication circuitry couples to the two wire process control loop and is configured to transmit an RF signal. Power supply circuitry provides power to the wireless communication circuitry.

RF adapter for field device

A wireless adapter for use with a two-wire process control loop is configured to couple to a process field device in an industrial process control system. The wireless adapter is coupled to the two-wire process control loop and provides wireless communication to the process field device. The adapter includes first and second loop terminals configured to couple in series with the two-wire process control loop. Wireless communication circuitry is coupled to the first and second loop terminals and is adapted to provide wireless communication to the process field device. Loop current bypass circuitry is electrically connected between the first and second loop terminals and is configured to provide a loop current path therebetween in response to an open circuit in wireless communication circuitry.

RF adapter for field device with loop current bypass

A flow blender device that includes a plurality of input flow conduits and a single output flow conduit. A variable sized orifice is positioned along at least one of the conduits for metering and controlling fluid flowing through the flow blender device. The variable sized orifice can be positioned along any of the input or output flow conduits. The flow blender device can use differential pressure measurements across the variable sized orifices to determine fluid flow rates in the flow blender device.

Fluid flow blender and methods

A device for metering and controlling fluid flow includes a variable orifice and is configured to use a pressure sensor. The device includes a fluid flow conduit having at least one planar inner wall that extends along a portion of the fluid flow conduit length, and an element having a linear edge configured to mate with the at least one planar inner wall of the fluid flow conduit. The element is movable in a direction transverse to an axis of the conduit between an open position wherein fluid flows through the conduit and a closed position wherein the element substantially shuts off fluid flow in the conduit.

Apparatus for controlling and metering fluid flow

A radar gauge adapted to sense fluid level in a tank and including a radar gauge circuit in which radar transmission and level sampling are controlled by a transmit frequency and a sample frequency respectively. A first frequency separation between first and second frequencies is controlled by a control input. The first and second frequencies can be divided to generate the transmit and sample frequencies, separated by a second frequency separation. At least one frequency difference is evaluated and the evaluation used to generate the control input, stabilizing the first frequency difference, and to correct the gauge output.

Stabilization in a radar level gauge

A method of improving the accuracy of a variable orifice flow meter that includes characterizing the flow coefficient of the flow meter orifice for different orifice openings and for different differential pressures. The method may be particularly useful with a flow metering and controlling device that includes a fluid flow conduit having at least one planar inner wall and an element having a linear edge configured to mate with the at least one planar inner wall of the fluid flow conduit. The element is movable relative to the conduit to define a flow orifice and vary a cross-sectional area of the orifice. The device also includes a processor configured to calculate the fluid flow based on the cross-sectional area of the orifice, the differential pressure, and the flow coefficient.

Software correction method and apparatus for a variable orifice flow meter

A method of improving the accuracy of a variable orifice flow meter that includes characterizing the discharge coefficient of the flow meter orifice for different orifice openings and for different differential pressures. The method may be particularly useful with a flow metering and controlling device that includes a fluid flow conduit having at least one planar inner wall and an element having a linear edge configured to mate with the at least one planar inner wall of the fluid flow conduit. The element is movable relative to the conduit to define a flow orifice and vary a cross-sectional area of the orifice. The device also includes a processor configured to calculate the fluid flow based on the cross-sectional area of the orifice, the differential pressure, and the discharge coefficient.

A level transmitter for use in a process application measures height of a product in a tank. The level transmitter includes a microwave antenna directed into the tank. A low power microwave source sends a microwave signal through the microwave antenna. A low power microwave receiver receives a reflected microwave signal. Measurement circuitry coupled to the source and receiver initiates transmitting of the microwave signal and determines product height based upon the received, reflected signal. Output circuitry coupled to a two-wire process control loop transmits information related to product height over the loop. Power supply circuitry in the level transmitter coupled to the two-wire process control loop receives power from the loop which powers the level transmitter including the microwave source and the microwave receiver.

Growing community of inventors

Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

John Allan Kielb